January 3, 2002 – Billings, MT – Kampgrounds of America, Inc. recently honored Starke KOA owners, John and Deborah Steffen along with their son, Matt and his wife Ronda, with a Gold Plus Rating and the Advisors Choice award for their outstanding facility and operation.

The Gold plus rating is the highest KOA Kampground rating award. KOA Quality Assurance Advisors visit each campground every year to conduct a thorough, 600-point review of each KOA. During that review, advisors evaluate everything from the entrance sign to bathroom cleanliness. To achieve the Gold Plus Rating, the campground must score high in all areas and surpass the already first-rate standards of the KOA Quality Assurance program.

"Campers expect more from KOA Kampgrounds," said Jim Rogers, KOA Inc. President and CEO, "and that's why we place such importance on setting our standards high and rewarding those who surpass them. KOA's standards and quality assurance reviews are unmatched in our industry and have played a major role in making KOA "#1 for Good Clean Fun."

The Steffen family also received a Gold Plus Award for the Starke KOA in 2001, the same year they received the Royal Flush award for having the cleanest restrooms in the KOA system, and the prestigious KOA Rising Star Award as the best new campground owners in the KOA system.

Established in Billings, Mont. in 1962, Kampgrounds of America, Inc. is the franchised campground industry leader. KOA offers RV, tent, Kamping Kabin and Kottage sites at campground locations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Japan. Currently, KOA has over 500 franchised campgrounds, and fourteen company operated properties that are open to the public. For more information, visit Kampgrounds of America on the Internet at www.koa.com, the most visited camping Web site in the world.

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January 3, 2002 – Billings, MT – Kampgrounds of America, Inc. recently honored Starke KOA owners, John and Deborah Steffen along with their son, Matt and his wife Ronda, with a Gold Plus Rating and the Advisors Choice award for their outstanding facility and operation.

The Gold plus rating is the highest KOA Kampground rating award. KOA Quality Assurance Advisors visit each campground every year to conduct a thorough, 600-point review of each KOA. During that review, advisors evaluate everything from the entrance sign to bathroom cleanliness. To achieve the Gold Plus Rating, the campground must score high in all areas and surpass the already first-rate standards of the KOA Quality Assurance program.

"Campers expect more from KOA Kampgrounds," said Jim Rogers, KOA Inc. President and CEO, "and that's why we place such importance on setting our standards high and rewarding those who surpass them. KOA's standards and quality assurance reviews are unmatched in our industry and have played a major role in making KOA "#1 for Good Clean Fun."

The Steffen family also received a Gold Plus Award for the Starke KOA in 2001, the same year they received the Royal Flush award for having the cleanest restrooms in the KOA system, and the prestigious KOA Rising Star Award as the best new campground owners in the KOA system.

Established in Billings, Mont. in 1962, Kampgrounds of America, Inc. is the franchised campground industry leader. KOA offers RV, tent, Kamping Kabin and Kottage sites at campground locations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Japan. Currently, KOA has over 500 franchised campgrounds, and fourteen company operated properties that are open to the public. For more information, visit Kampgrounds of America on the Internet at www.koa.com, the most visited camping Web site in the world.

I know it takes a lot of hard work and dedication from you, your family, and the folks you employ to earn such an award. As a fellow RV'r, I for one appreciate your efforts to maintain such high standards.

Hopefully, other campgrounds will follow your example and maintain the same standards. On my next trip down to Florida, I'll make an effort to route myself that way so I can stop in and say hello.

Congrats Matt! I'm just back home from a trip thru Florida and based on your posts on this forum and a visit to your website, I made a point of detouring thru Starke to stay at your park on 12/29.

It's apparent from the time you enter the park that this is a well run operation - the folks in the office made a great first impression. The park is nicely laid out, spotlessly clean and I can see why you have "award winning" bathrooms.

I have stayed at many KOA's thru the years, and like many folks on this forum, my experiences have varied widely. I only wish some of the other park owners would stay with you for a week or two and take some lessons home with them.

Although we just around the bend, we will come over for a long weekend sometime, just to get away from our Jacksonville home.... It's always nice to know of a good spot to popup at....usually we go up to Little Talbot, but do appreciate the comforts of a well run KOA, and this one sure sounds like that. We have driven by several times going to Gainesville or Ocala and my wife {dyankee47}, always comments on how nice the KOA looks from the highway....

Congratulations....I'm in a similar business and know it's not easy to get the job done and keep everyone(most of them) happy. You have a lot to be proud of and I will make sure our trip to Fl includes a stay with you.

I got my 2003 directory today and noticed this entry:
"Dig into spaghetti and meatballs at the Starke, Florida KOA"
Also, what happened to the ratings in the directory?
Edit: I just went to the KOA web site and created some feedback.

Congratulations John and Deb Matt and Rhonda on receiving this award two years in a row. We were there in early March and enjoyed our stay although it rained. We will make plans to visit again in the future.